Tool for building wire fences



(No Model.)

' L. 0. HIGH SMITH. TOQL FOR BUILDING WIRE FBNUES.

Patented May 15, 1894.

NITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

LEWIS O. HIGHSMITH, OF CANTON, TEXAS.

TOOL FOR BUILDING WIRE F ENCE S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,710, dated May 15, 1894.

I Application filed February 13, 1894. Serial No. 00,101. (No model.) I I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Laws O.H1eHsM1TH,a citizen of the United States, residing at Ganton, in the county of Van Zandt and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Oombination-Tool for Building Wire Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in tools for use in building wire fences; and it has for its object the production of a more simple and efiective arrangement, and one in which there will be properly combined a nail holding and driving device, a measuring attachment, and a wire cutter.

To this end the invention consists of certain improved features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafterand finally embodied in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my invention, showing the manner of using it. Fig.2 is a longitudinal section of the same on line y-y of Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a detail of the measuring and cutting section detached. Fig. 4is a similar view of the nail-driving element. Fig. 5 is a section on the line ac--w of Fig. 2.

The reference letter a indicates the body of the appliance, which is preferably constructed of wood and formed cylindrical in shape, though this may be varied without affecting the invention. Formed in the body a and extendinglongitudinallyits entire length, is thepassage a, which is enlarged into the staple receptacle b, at the forward end of the body. This receptacle, b, is of such a size and shape that astaple will fit snugly therein, with its points a short distance from the end. of the receptacle, and the body has formed therein at the end of the receptacle b, the lateral notches b, which are two in number and one on each side of the body. These notches are provided to hold the fence wire before the staple, and to allow the end of the body to firmly engage the post, thus insuring the proper driving of the staple.

Arranged in the passage a and capable of longitudinal movement therein, is the stapledriving rod or plunger 0, which extends from the receptacle I) through the body and projects beyond its rear edge forashort distance. The rear end of the rod or plunger 0 is provided with a drivingbutton 0 adapted to receive the blow of the driving tool, while the forward end of the rod is enlarged to fit '55 snugly within the receptacle b, and has its forward extremity, proper, formed with a cup shaped indentation c therein, which is designed for the reception of the rear portion of the staple, as shown in the drawings. From this construction it will be seen that by placing a staple in the receptacle 1), and driving the rod 0 forward, the staple will be forced out the receptacle and into the post.

The reference letter (1 indicates the measuring attachment, which consists of an elongated metallic plate, provided with aslot d therein, and this slot extends for nearly the entire length of the plate, and by means of the set screw e, the plate may be secured to the body a at any point along its length, and the plate is provided with the scale e, running upward from the free end of the plate. By this means the plate may be secured to the body, with the distance fromthe free end and notches b that which may be desired, and by placing the free end of the plate at the wire below and adjusting the wire to be secured in the notches b, the second wire may be secured at a distance above the first equal 8c to the distance between the free end of the plate and the notches 1). Thus the distance between the wires of the fence may be quickly and efiectively regulated.

Formed on the lower forward side of the body, a, is the knife-edge, fiwhich is disposed downwardly and with a plane surface f adjacent to the side of the body to which the plate dis secured. This knife-edge f is adapted to co-operate with the blade g, which is 0 formed integral with the upper end of plate cl, and by means of the opening g and the set-screw e, the plate may be securely pivoted, so that the blade 9 will move along'the plane surface f and thereby form a wire-cutting 9 5 device. The set-screw e is so constructed that it may be used to adj ustably secure the plate (1, while acting in the capacity of a measuring device, and when it is desired to form a wire-cutter, it may be passed through we opening g and thereby pivotally secure the plate on a stationary fulcrum.

From the foregoing description, the essential characteristics of my invention may be ascertained, and it will be seen that the device may be used to great advantage in building wire fences. By means of the rod or plunger c and its co-operative parts, the staple may be driven without danger of a mis-stroke, or bruising the fingers of the driver; the plate d forms a means whereby the distance between the wires of the fence may be regulated; and by adjusting the screw 6, a wire cutter may be formed. As the use of these devices is well known no further description is thought to be necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An appliance for use in building wire fences and consisting of a body portion having a staple receptacle at one end thereof, a rod passing through the body and having one end projecting into the staple receptacle, whereby the staple may be driven, an adj ustable gage secured to the body, whereby the distance between the wires may be regulated, the gage having a wire-cutting blade thereon and adapted to co-operate with a knife-edge on the body, and means for pivoting the gage to the body when used for cutting wire, sub stantially as described.

2. An appliance for use in building wire fences and consisting of a body-portion having a staple receptacle at one end thereof, a rod passing through the body and projecting into the staple receptacle, whereby the staple may be driven, a gage plate having a longitudinal slot therein, a removable set-screw operating in the slot, whereby the gage may be adjusted, a knife-edge on the body and adjacent to the gage-plate and a'knife blade on the gage plate and adapted to co-operate with the knife-edge, the plate having an opening therein adapted to receive the set screw aforesaid, whereby it may be pivotally secured to the body when so desired, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

' LEWIS (J. HIGHSMITH. Witnesses:

W. D. COLEMAN, J. P. KEARBY. 

